Hatred With Benefits novel Chapter 80

EMERSON.

"Why did you leave?" I let out a groan at the sound of her voice and when I turn around, Hanna is standing in front of me with a glare attached to her face and her arms crossed to her chest.

"What did I say about coming into my room without my approval?" I raise my brows at her, ignoring her previous question and she drops her hands as she steps closer to me, not removing her eyes from me. "Why did you do that, Emerson?"

"Since when do I have to explain myself to you?" I ask and she says, "Since it includes you leaving the damn state without notifying anyone. "

"Don't raise your voice at me. " I warn her before I turn to the side and stalk towards my bed. "I don't have to give you reasons for my actions, and you shouldn't expect any from me either. "

A scoff leaves her lips as she follows after me. "Really, Emery? Are we still playing the cold big brother game?"

"Hanna, please, " I sigh. "I really don't have it in me to argue with you right now. I left because I needed to; there you have it. "

"And now you don't longer need to stay away? Is that why you're back?" I avert my gaze to the door, wondering why the fuck I didn't bother to click on the lock when I know she's around. When I give her no response, Hanna continues to speak; her next words are not ones I were expecting and ones that catch my interest. "I went to your place, and I met her. "

When I settle my gaze on hers, she whispers, "Eva. "

I'm quick to move out of bed and stand in front of my sister again. "Why did you go there?"

"I just wanted to check on her. " She answers and I nod, "And how was she? How is she? When did you go? What did you say to her and what did she say? Have you seen her after that? Did she say anything about me? Talk to me, Hanna. "

She folds her arms to her chest and tilts her head, a playful smirk spreading to her face as she says, "I thought you wanted me to keep my mouth shut and leave your room. "

"This is the time where I need you to be serious, Hanna. " I say and her smirk drops, a serious expression covering her face. "She didn't look so good. "

"What?" I arch a brow and she continues, "It was four days ago, and she told me she's leaving your apartment. I think she went back home, but I'm not sure of that because I rarely see her around here. She's mad at you, Emery. A lot. You hurt her so much. I could feel it when I look into her eyes and I heard it in her voice. "

My voice trembles as I open my mouth, "She— she isn't fine?"

Hanna shakes her head. "Not exactly as you thought she'd be. " Fuck no.

"She said you left and she has to too. " What? No. No, she can't do that. How the fuck— why didn't she understand my note? I know I made a hard decision, but I thought she'd understand.

"I have to—" I don't complete my words before I leave Hanna and start to head to the door and her voice echoes behind me. "Emerson. Where are you going?" I don't listen as I stroll out of the room, and down the hallway; making a stop at the front of the room where their voices are coming from.

"He ran to you? Of course, that's what he'd do. What else was I expecting from a fucking coward?" The sound of dad's chuckles follows those words and I drop my head, my hands folding into fists of their own accord.

"I thought we agreed that you'd never disturb Emerson again. "

"And are you saying you came from New York, and left your job just to lecture me about some boy that doesn't deserve it?"

"Please, dad. " Elias speaks up next. "We made a deal, and we both agreed to it. "

"And that deal doesn't involve me watching while he sleeps around with the daughter of the man I'm trying to eliminate. "

I open the door at that, and both heads snap to me as I stride inside.

"Emerson. What are you doing here? I told you to—" I don't listen to Elias as he moves from his seat and I walk directly to dad. His brows are furrowed as I stand in front of him and I open my mouth, "What will you have me do?"

"What?" He says and I drop my gaze from his. "I will do anything. You can ask of anything from me, but please, just don't ask me to harm Matt Carson. "

"I don't think you're in any position to tell me—" I don't let him finish his words before I drop to my knees before him with my hands on my thighs. I keep my eyes down as I begin to speak again, "Please. I know you hate me for what happened with mom, and you probably hate me more because I've been of no use to you. You can continue to do that. I'll stay away from this family if you want me to, but please, don't try to create any more trouble between me and her. Let me have this one thing. "

"God, Emerson. What are you doing? Get up. " Elias walks to my side and grabs me by my arm, lifting me to stand by his side. "I told you to stand by and I'll handle this. "

"You also told me I must be willing to do anything and everything. " I remind him of his previous words and he sighs, looking away from me to dad who stares between the two of us.

"Tell me what you want. To keep you from making moves against that man. "

"You can do nothing. Matt doesn't deserve where he's at and you know how much I hate having to share when it comes to work. " Dad says and Eli responds, "But the man is working just as hard as you are if he manages to hold that position till now. You should be working with him, father; not plotting against him. "

"I was fucking there first!" Dad snaps now, raising from his seat. "I held that place first and Matt Carson came out of nowhere; taking more than he could chew. He's arrogant and never listens. "

"Is that what this is about? You hate him because he doesn't dance to your tunes?" Elias laughs and when dad remains mute, he proceeds to say, "We're talking about a grown-up man here, dad. A man who proved himself capable over the years, despite you being the problem. That's right, father. I did my research before coming here, and I know for a fact the only reason you're being like this is because you think Matt Carson doesn't deserve the percentage he holds. "

I look away from Elias to dad, and the look on his face tells me he hit him at the right spot.

"And that's why I'll make you an offer for you to stop trying to kick him off. I'm not saying you have to work with him, but you don't have to work against him either, and you also don't have to interrupt your son's affairs with his daughter. I'll give you a raise of twenty percent. "

"What? No, you can't do that. " I tell him but his gaze remains on the man in front of us and I turn my head to dad, "You can't take that. He's working as you want him to, and you take more than enough of the share. You can't ask him to add more. "

"I'll think about it. " Dad responds, completely ignoring my words and I let out a scoff, about to open my mouth again, only for Elias to slap my shoulder and gesture to the exit.

I give dad one last glance before I follow through and when we're away from him, I say, "What the fuck was that? If you add twenty percent to what he takes from you, then you'll be getting only thirty percent. You practically built that company, why the hell should you have to do this?"

He merely smiles as he slips his hands into his pockets. "We're in a world of give and take, little brother. You didn't think he was going to back down without a good reason, did you? It was going to take more than just mere words, Emerson. "

I shake my head as I pace around him. "I can't believe he said that. I know he hates me, but you? You're his fucking son and you have helped him in so many ways. "

"You're his son too. " He nods to me and I halt my steps, meeting his eyes. "I'm different. "

"You're not. You're his son, Emerson and I know he gives you a reason to think otherwise but his resolve will be broken soon. Our father isn't always a cold bastard as you see him as. "

"You should have let me remain on my knees. " I mumble and he laughs before he says, "You know it's more than just the fact that he despises that man, don't you? "

"Yeah. He loves to see me suffer. He has it easy this time that it's with a man who hates him just as much as he does. "

"Have you seen her yet?" He asks and I smile. "Not yet. But I'll soon. "

EVA.

The breeze blows past me and I rub my hands down my arms from the coldness that it brings with it before I slip my hands into my pockets and only then do I feel the vibration of the phone inside.

Lifting the mobile to my face, mom's name is across the screen and I decide to leave it at first, but knowing she wouldn't stop calling until I take it; I swipe the button to the side and press the phone to my ear.